Galveston Island Major Story Angles: 2017-2018
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Galveston Island Major Story Angles: 2017-2018 What’s New? Tall Ships Challenge Coming to Galveston in 2018 For the first time in history, Tall Ships America will bring its TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series of Tall Ships® races and port festivals to the Gulf of Mexico, starting with Galveston Island. TALL SHIPS GALVESTON® will make its debut April 5-8, 2018 with a fleet of visiting tall ships to Galveston’s historic waterfront. This new festival will include ship tours, sail-away excursions, music, food and other special events in a family friendly environment. Galveston Island will serve as the first of four port stops in the 2018 challenge. For details, visit www.tallshipsgalveston.com. Galveston to Host New Third Coast Music Festival in 2018 Galveston will host the new Third Coast Music Festival in 2018. The festival will take place April 26-29 featuring 40 bands and 50 shows representing numerous genres and venues across the city. This isn’t a festival in a field; it’s a unique experience for guests to hear some of the nation’s best live music while interacting with various venues and locations in Galveston. Also, the 10th annual Galveston Island Beach Revue will return on Saturday as a festival highlight with a free afternoon of vintage-inspired music, and the world famous Bathing Beauties contest. www.thirdcoastmusicfestival.com New Extended-Stay Luxury Suites to Open at The Tremont House in 2018 The Tremont House hotel has begun construction of its new extended stay option, The Quarters, which will be available for guests in early 2018. The Quarters will feature 14 luxury, extended- stay suites in both 1- and 2-bedroom options. Each suite will include king-sized beds, fully- furnished kitchens, and high-end furnishings for living and dining spaces. The rooms will be located across the street from The Tremont House in the historic, 1858 Berlocher Building at 2311-2313 Ship’s Mechanic Row. The Quarters will be added to The Tremont House inventory, targeting extended-stay guests planning a 5-day to month-long visit. www.thetremonthouse.com Galveston Offers New Birding Tours Did you know more than 300 species of birds reside or travel through Galveston every year? Or that the island is located on the trans-Gulf bird migration route? Indeed, these are a couple of reason the island is one of the top locations for bird-watching in the United States. Beginning in fall 2017, visitors have a new way to explore this fascinating aspect of the island with birding tours offered by the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council. These tours feature the island’s top birding hot spots and take visitors to see, learn about and photograph rare and unique birds up close and personal. www.birdingforfun.com New Shops in Historic Downtown Galveston Galveston’s historic downtown is welcoming new shops and restaurants on a regular basis. New dining options include HubCap Grill, Shucks Oyster Bar and Bubba’s at Galveston. New shops include RELAX Life Wear, Emboldened Boutique, BLU Boutique, The Tea & Spice Exchange and Play on The Strand. A new brewery, called Devil and the Deep Brewery, is slated to open in fall 2017. Galveston’s Historic Downtown Strand Seaport District is a nationally recognized historic district filled with majestic Victorian architecture that houses shops, restaurants, museums, The Grand 1894 Opera House and other attractions. www.downtowngalveston.org Moody Gardens Aquarium Now Open after $37M Renovation Galveston’s Moody Gardens completed a $37 million renovation on its Aquarium Pyramid in May 2017, offering new exhibits including the addition of jellyfish and tropical penguins. The Moody Gardens aquarium features marine life from four regions of the world including the Gulf of Mexico to South Atlantic, the South and North Pacific and the Caribbean. Moody Gardens is a family entertainment complex featuring a tropical rainforest, aquarium, 3D and 4D theaters, a ropes course and zip line, Palm Beach water park, a golf course, the Moody Gardens Hotel and more. For details, visit www.moodygardens.org. Galveston Sporting New Beaches along Seawall Galveston is sporting several miles of new beaches following two major beach expansion and nourishment projects. In spring 2017, the island welcomed four miles of new beaches after a $19.5 million nourishment project that widened beaches along the seawall between 12th and 61st streets. During the summer of 2017, the seawall also underwent a beautification project and received new restrooms and outdoor showers. In addition, a new 15-block beach, named “Babe’s Beach,” opened along the seawall west of 61st Street in 2016. www.galvestonbeachinfo.com Cruising New Cruise Ships Coming to Port of Galveston in Late 2017, 2018 As the fourth busiest cruise port in America, Galveston will offer several new cruise ships and schedules in 2018, including the addition of a second Royal Caribbean ship as well as the newest ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. Starting Nov. 6, 2017, Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas will homeport in Galveston, offering 4- and 5-day itineraries to destinations in Mexico through April 16. In June 2018, the Vision of the Seas will then be replaced with the Enchantment of the Seas. Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas also sails from Galveston year-round, offering 7-night itineraries to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. In addition, Carnival Cruise Line will make updates to its offerings from Galveston in 2018. Carnival offers year-round itineraries on three ships that sail from Galveston. In September 2018, the Carnival Vista will begin sailing from the island to replace the Carnival Breeze. The Carnival Vista is currently the newest ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. Finally, the Disney Wonder will continue to offer seasonal sailing from Galveston November through January in 2017 and 2018. Galveston Home to 4th Busiest Cruise Port in U.S Travelers from across the country will head to Galveston in 2018 for cruise itineraries departing from the fourth busiest cruise port in the U.S. Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean both offer year-round itineraries and Disney offers seasonal itineraries departing from the Port of Galveston. Offering four-, five- and seven-night schedules, cruise ships in Galveston travel to destinations in the eastern and western Caribbean, including Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, The Bahamas and more. Extend Your Vacation with Pre- or Post-Cruise Fun in Galveston With amenities and attractions minutes from the harbor, Galveston Island is the perfect place to extend your cruise vacation. With most cruises departing between 4 and 5 p.m., you can easily add some Galveston fun to your cruise vacation – whether you have a half day, full day or longer. Arrive a day or two early and check in at any of the island hotels that offer port shuttle services and free parking during your cruise when you book at least a one-night stay. For a stay near the port, try Harbor House Hotel & Marina. For a stay on the beachfront, try the San Luis Resort or Hotel Galvez. For a stay on the West End, visit the Moody Gardens Hotel. While on the island, you can check out 32 miles of beaches, plenty of historic sites and adventure attractions like Moody Gardens and the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier amusement park. To view a suggested pre- or post-cruise itinerary, click here. General Small Beach Town Tranquility Meets Big City Thrills Imagine an island with miles of beaches lined with palm trees, spectacularly restored Victorian homes, charming historic districts and world class adventure attractions. Now, imagine it in … Texas? A world away from the stereotypical idea of a Texas vacation, Galveston Island offers a truly unique and picturesque view of the Lone Star State on the Gulf Coast. And, while Galveston offers all the views and relaxation anyone could want, it’s just a 45-minute drive from Houston. The fourth largest city in the nation, Houston offers big city amenities like luxury shopping, professional sports and some of the country’s best cuisine, arts and culture. The close proximity of Galveston and Houston makes it easy for travelers to capture the benefits of both destinations during one vacation. Family Travel Family Travel in Galveston Families looking for a vacation experience where everyone – from grandma to grandchild – can be satisfied will head to Galveston Island this year. With a wide variety of attractions, Galveston is a family vacation destination that offers adventure, relaxation and education all in one place. Galveston is home to 32 miles of beaches and thrilling attractions like Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier amusement Park and family adventure resort Moody Gardens – home to a living rainforest, aquarium, Discovery Museum, 3- D and 4-D theaters, a golf course, water park, ropes course and zip line, historic paddlewheel boat and the Moody Gardens Hotel. Historic downtown Galveston offers unique shopping and entertainment, dolphin tours and a variety of museums. While the island’s center is full of activity, the island’s West End is a peaceful paradise where an abundance of beach house rentals are available to accommodate families of all sizes. Outdoor Recreation Hit the Beach on Galveston Island With 32 miles of beaches for sports and recreation, Galveston Island truly is the outdoor playground of Texas. The warm weather and cool Gulf breezes found on Galveston Island make enjoying the outdoors an amenity you can count on all year round. Many of the island’s beach parks offer special amenities, such as free concerts, outdoor showers, restrooms, delicious treats and more. Water sports are a popular draw to Galveston’s beaches, where people come to surf, swim, boat, dive, play beach volleyball, fly board, parasail, go horseback riding and more.